26th July, 2023
Mallam Salihu Lukman has officially stepped down from the office of the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress for North-West.
Lukman submitted his letter of resignation to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari on Wednesday.
The development is coming a week after the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, tendered their resignations.
In the copy of the letter made available to our correspondent, the Kaduna politician took a swipe at President Bola Tinubu after hinging his resignation on illegal acts and interference in the affairs of the party.
Lukman said that he opted to throw in the towel rather than remain in the party to continue his agitation and be seen as a distraction.
The letter read, “Your Excellency, I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party, All Progressives Congress. My resignation is with immediate effect, which becomes necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party.
“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and becoming a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off from politics.
“I will however retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.
“I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna especially Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for finding me worthy of nomination to serve at the highest of the party’s leadership.
“I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in the circumstance.
“I wish the party and all our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu all the best and will continue to give my modest support towards the success of the party from the background.”
Lukman has been critical of the leadership of the APC, insisting that Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, both former national chairman and secretary of the party, should give account of their stewardship.
He has also recently voiced out against alleged moves to elect Abdullahi Ganduje, immediate former governor of Kano state, as the national chairman of the party.